Sunday, April 02, 2000

Cards, letters ease Bob Braun's retirement

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BY JOHN KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        Your cards and letters — not laughter — have been the best medicine for radio and TV personality Bob Braun since retiring in November.

        “We've received hundreds and hundreds of cards and letters, great big boxes,” says Wray Jean Braun, his wife of 45 years.

Bob Braun and his wife of 45 years, Wray Jean. (file photo) | ZOOM |

        “It's been good medicine for him. It really lifts his spirits, reading these heart-warming personal notes and letters from people.”

        Mr. Braun, who turns 71 on April 20, hasn't been out of his Evendale home much since he left his WSAI-AM (1530) morning show in late August.

        In October, he revealed he had been battling Parkinson's disease for a number of years. Unlike actor Michael J. Fox, who has tremors, Mr. Braun's kind of Parkinson's causes muscle stiffness and slows all of his movement.

        His medicine, or the disease itself, has weakened Mr. Braun's voice — a voice heard on Cincinnati radio and TV since the 1940s.

He succeeded Lyons
        The Ludlow native, one of WCPO-TV's earliest stars, won the $1,000 top prize on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts in 1957. He was immediately hired by rival WLWT and WLW-AM, and eventually succeeded legendary Ruth Lyons as host of Channel 5's top-rated live daytime variety-talk show for 17 years (1967-84).

        When the show was canceled in 1984, he and Wray Jean moved to Los Angeles, where he spent 10 years doing infomercials, movies and talk shows, and hosting parades and other TV broadcasts. He returned here in 1994 to launch the nostalgia music format on WSAI-AM.

        “I don't think we realized all he had done until he retired,” Mrs. Braun says.

        “And then we thought about it and said, "My gosh, he did a lot!' I guess we were too busy doing it.”

        Mrs. Braun says her husband misses going to Clear Channel's Mount Adams studios to see his friends and WSAI-AM co-workers.

        “He even misses getting up at 3 a.m., although he groused about it,” she says.

        His medication makes him very drowsy, she says. Often he takes a morning or afternoon nap. Most of his waking moments are spent watching TV and movies or reading his mail.

Nominated for award
        The Brauns, parents of Channel 12 anchor Rob Braun, also have received copies of some letters sent to the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce supporting Bob Braun's nomination as a “Great Living Cincinnatian.” The chamber will announce this fall who will be honored in February.

        “The love people have for this man is unbelievable. And it frustrates him that he can't thank each person individually,” she says.

        “We've not found a way yet to thank people. So please tell everyone that we'd love them to know how much their cards and letters are appreciated.” Cards may be sent to Bob Braun, c/o WSAI-AM, 1111 St. Gregory St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45201. Letters supporting his nomination as a “Great Living Cincinnatian” should be sent to: Great Living Cincinnatian, Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, 300 Carew Tower, 441 Vine St., Cincinnati 45202.

       

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